Meat chopping block smoothing machine



March 23, 1943. R. L. GOFF 2,314,697

MEAT CHOPPING BLOCK SMOOTHING MACHINE Filed oct. s, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 A m gs @D M R. L. GOFF March 23, 1943. l

MEAT CHOPPING BLCK SMOOTHING MACHINE Fld oct. 2a, 1940 ys sheets-sheet 2 March 23, 1943. R. L; GOFF 2,314,697

MEAT CHOPiING .BLOCK SMOOTHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1.9 40 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 `\\\\\\n s L 11,

Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE MEAT CHOPPING BLOCK SMOOTHING MACHDWE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for scraping and straightening the working face of a meat block.

An object of this invention is to provide a collapsible or knockdown scraper structure which is adapted to be secured to a meat chopping block for the purpose of smoothing or levelling the upper face of the block.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind including a motor operated scraper or cutter and detachable means for movably supporting the motor relative to the meat chopping block so that the block maybe operated upon to the desired extent.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may readily be secured to different sizes of blocks.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a block smoothing structure including a horizontally shiftable carriage and a vertically shiftablecarriage by means ofwhich the top of the meat block may be smoothed to the desired extent.

A further object of this invention is to provide a manually shiftable cutter structure and an automatically releasable means to limit the shifting of the cutter structure in one direction.

To the above objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrange,- ment of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of a meat chopping block smoothing structure constructed `ac cording to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a detail front elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear end elevation partly broken away and in section and partly eX- ploded of the device.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 isa fragmentary sectionalA View in partly exploded condition and taken on theV line I'I of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the carriage holding dog. y v

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view lof one portion of the motor carriage showing the latching means for latching the carriage with the carriage operator.

Figure 1l.` is a sectional view taken on the line I I-I I of- Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I5 designates generally a meat chopping block which is provided with supporting legs I6. The chopping block I5y is of conventional construction and as shown herein the block I5vis substantially equal in plane. After the block I5' has been used for a period of time the upper surface I'I thereof becomes uneven and it is in order to smooth or even the upper surface ofthe block I5 that the hereinafter described invention has been provided.

In order, therefore, to provide a surface smoothing` means for smoothing the surface I'I of the block |55, I have provided a collapsible or knockdown structure, as will be hereinafter described, which may be detachably mounted on the blockV I5, the device being assembled about the block I5. The hereafter described smoothing machine is of'such a construction that blocks of different s-izes may be worked upon by the machine and the Work may be performed atA the particular point where thev chopping block I5- is located.

On opposite sides of' the block I5.' there are adapted to be positioned, carriage guide members which are termed lower supporting. structures and they are generally designated as I8' and I'S. The guide member I8 comprises upper andi lower guide rodsor bars- 20 and 2I, respectively; which are secured in spaced apart parallel relation to a pair of end members ZZ-and 23. The end member 22 is provided on itsinner side with a pair of bushings or bosses 2111 and 25 Within which the rods 26 and 2|-, respectively, Iare adapted to be secured. The end member 23 on-its inner side is formed with upper' and lower bosses or bushings 2d and 21 inA whichY the opposite ends ofthe guide rods or bars- Zil and 2 I1, respectively, are adapted to be Xed. The lower end of the end member 22 is formed with an inwardly projecting foot or ange 28 and the lower end of the end member 23. is also formed-with anl inwardly projecting foot or flange 29. The flanges 28 andA 29E engageon the upper Sdeo'f a horizontal Ysupporting flange 30 carried by a combined angle supporting and clamping member generally designated as 3|. The supporting member 3I is provided with a dependent angle or side 32 which as shown in Figure 2 is adapted to engage against the adjacent side of the block I5.

The guide member I9 is constructed similar to the guide member` I8 and comprises upper and lower guide rods or bars 33 and 34 which are secured to upstanding end members 35 and 39. The end members 35 and 35 are secured to the horizontal ange 31 of a combined guide supporting member and clamp generally designated as 38 which is similar to the clamp 3l. The angle member or clamp 38 includes a vertical ange or side 39 which is adapted to engage the side of the block I opposite from the side engaged by the clamping member 3 I.

The clamping members 3l and 38 are adapted to be held in vertically adjusted position relative to the block I5 by means of a pair of flexible members 49 shown in Figure 1 which are constructed in the form of a chain, one end of which is engaged with a hook 4I carried by a threaded stem 42. The stem 42 engages through an opening 43 in the side 39 of the clamping member 38 and a nut or hand wheel 44 is threaded onto the stem 42 and engages against the outer side of the clamping jaw or member 33. A second hook 45 engages in a selected link of the chain 40 and is provided with a stem 48 engaging through an opening 41 formed in the side 32 of the clamping member 3I. A hand wheel or pressure member 48 is threaded onto the stem 43 so that tightening of the hand wheel or nut 48 on the stem 4B will draw the two clamping members 3I and 38 into clamping engagement with the opposite sides of the chopping block I5. It will be understood that there are two of these chains 4i) and also chain tightening members including two hand wheels 48 which are shown in Figure 3.

In order to provide a means whereby the guide members I8 and I9 may be vertically adjusted relative to the block I5 and prevented from vertical slipping relative to the block I5 either before or after the clamping members 3|, 38 are tightened, I have provided a pair of adjustable leg members 49 which are pivotally carried by the clamping member 3I and a second pair of adjustable legs 5I) which are carried by the clamping member 38. The details of construction of the legs 49 and 58 are identical and each leg comprises a head 5I which is pivotally mounted on a pivot member or bolt 52 carried by the side flange of a clamping member 3I or 38.

A nut 53 is threaded onto the bolt or pivot 52 and is adapted to hold the leg 49 in either a horizontal inoperative position parallel with the upper flange 30 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 or in a vertical operative position shown in full lines in Figures 2 and 3. A threaded stem or shaft 54 extends downwardly from the head 5I and is threaded into a tubular leg member 55. The leg member 55 is locked relative to the shaft 54 by means of a lock nut 55 which is threaded onto the shaft 54 and is adapted to engage against the upper end of the leg 55.

A carriage generally designated as 51 movably engages the guide members I8 and I9 and the carriage 51 includes a pair of forward slide members 58 which slidably engage the guide members 20 and 2| and a pair of rear slide members 59 which slidably engage the rear guide members or rods 33 and 34. The two forward slide members 58 are fixed to a front plate G8 and the rear slide members 59V are, fixed to'a reark plate 6I. The plate 60 has secured to the upper edge thereof a rearwardly projecting plate 62 which may also be secured in any suitable manner to the upper ends of the forward guide members 58. The plate 62 projects rearwardly from the guide members 5B as shown in Figure 2, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. The rear plate 6I has secured to the upper edge thereof a forwardly projecting plate 63 which is secured in any suitable manner to the upper ends of the rear slide members 59 and the plate 63 as shown in Figure 2 projects forwardly upon the forward edges of the slide members 59.

The carriage 51 also includes two pairs of spaced apart parallel guide members 64 and 65 which at their forward ends are secured to Vertically disposed bars 66 which are fixed to an upper carriage plate B1. A vertically disposed brace or guide 58 is disposed rearwardly from each forward bar 66 and is connected at its upper end to the bar 66 by means of a connecting plate 69. The plate 81, the bars 55 and the lower ends of the guides or braces E8 are xed to a base plate 18. The plate 19 extends rearwardly from the braces 68 and engages over the plate 62. The plate 62 is provided on t-he upper side thereof with a pair of upwardly projecting lugs or keys 1I which are engageable in keyways or recesses 12 formed in the plate 1li. The

plate 18 is fixed relative to the plate 32 by means of a pair of hooks or plate clamping members 13 which engage through the plate 1i) and beneath the plate 62.

Each hook 13 has a thumb nut 14 threaded thereon so that the plate 1D may be detachably secured to the plate 62. The rear plate 6I has detachably mounted thereon a rear guide structure for the pairs of guide bars E4 and 65 which includes a pair of vertically disposed bars 15 which are secured to the forward side 0f a rear carriage plate 16. The guide bars 64 and 55 are slidable through the supporting bars 15 and plate 1B and are also slidable through a pair of forward guide members 11 which are fixed at their upper ends to a horizontal forwardly projecting plate 18. The plate 18 is xed to the upper ends of the guide members 15 and the plate 16 by any suitable fastening means. The forward guide members 11 are secured at their lower ends to a base plate 19 which is also fixed to the lower ends of the guide members 15 and the rear plate 16. The base plate 19 is formed adjacent the forward edge thereof with a pair of recesses or keyways 88 within which keys 8l carried by the plate 63 are adapted to engage and the plate 19 is detachably secured to the plate 63 by means of a pair of hooks 82 formed with threaded stems 83. A thumb nut 84 is threaded onto a stem 83 so that the hooks 82 may be engaged beneath the plates 62 and in this manner the rear guide structure may be secured to the rear carriage structure including the plate 6I and. the slide members 59.

The carriage 51Y is adapted to be shifted lengthwise of the guide members I8 andr I9 by means of a hand wheel 85 which is xed to one end of a carriage adjusting shaft 8B. The shaft 85 is journalled through a bearing 81 carried by the plate 60 and the rear end of the shaft 85 has mounted thereon a gear or pinion 88. A horizontally disposed toothed rack 89 is xed between the two end members 22 and 23 and the gear or pinion 88 is in constant mesh with the teeth 90 of t-he rack bar 88. A rear rack bar 92 is secured between the rear end members 35 and 36 and is disposed with the teeth 93 thereof uppermost.

A spring pressed dog 94 is pivotally mounted between a pair of ears 95 and the dog 94 extends downwardly through an opening 96 provided in the top plate 63. The bill 91 of the dog 94 is .adapted to engage the teeth 93 and is adapted to hold the rear carriage structure against sliding movement along the guide members 33 and 34 in one direction.

The carriage 51 may be releasably locked against movement relative to the guide members I8 and I9 by means of a clamping block 98 which is loosely disposed between the upper plate 62 and the horizontal flange 3|) of the clamping member 3|. A stationary clamping block 99 is secured to the front plate 66 and a threaded shaft |60 loosely engages through the stationary block 99 and is swivelly mounted as at ||l| in the movable block 98. The movable block S8 is provided with a pair of semi-cylindrical recesses |62 and |03 within which the guide rods 20 and 2| respectively are adapted to engage. The stationary clamping block 99 is also provided with a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical recesses |04 and |65 confronting the recesses |62 and |53. The stationary block 99 may also be provided with a recess within which the rack bar 89 is adapted to slidably engage. The clamping block 98 may be provided with a recess |01 confronting the recess |66 so that when the block 95 is pulled forwardly by means of a hand Wheel or nut |58 which is threaded on the shaft |63, the clamping block 98 will tightly secure the guide members 20 and 2| with respect to the stationary block or jaw 99 and will also tightly hold the rack bar 93 with respect to the stationary jaw 99.

A second carriage generally designated as |05 is slidable on the pairs of guide bars or members 54 and 65. rlhe carriage |69 is shiftable at right angles to the carriage 51 and to the guide members I3 and I9. The carriage |59 as shown in Figure 5 comprises pairs of slide members |||l and which slidably engage the guide members 64 and 55, respectively.` The slide members ||0 and I are xed to a horizontally disposed plate ||2 which extends between the guide members 64 and 65 and at one edge projects laterally as shown in Figure 5.

The carriage |09 is shifted lengthwise of the guide members 54 and 65 by means of a threaded carriage shifting shaft ||3 which is journalled in bearings H4 carried by the front plate 61. A hand wheel l5 is fixed to the forward end of the shaft ||3 so that the shaft ||3 may be manually rotated. The rear portion of the shaft ||3 is also journalled through the rear plate 16. The carriage |59 has secured to the plate ||2 thereof a slide block ||5 which in its upper side is formed with a substantially semi-cylindrical recess ||1 in which the shaft H3 loosely engages. A car- -riage shifting block ||3 is pivotally secured as at ||9 to the slide block H6. The block ||3 on its lower face is formed with a threaded semi-cylindrical recess l2!) in which the threads of the shaft H3 are adapted to engage so that when the block ||8 is in latched position as shown in Figures 5 and l0 rotation of the shaft ||3 will effect movement of the carriage |99 lengthwise of the guide members 54 and 65.

The pivoted block or nut member I I8 is releasably locked in operative position for engagement with the shaft ||3 by means of a pivoted latch member or bolt |2| mounted on a pivot |22 carried by the block H3. The latch member |2| at its free end is formed with a hook or projection |23 so that this latch member |2| may be manually shifted into engagement with a substantially L-shaped keeper |24 which is xe'd to slide member and projects upwardly therefrom. The latching bar or bolt |2| is adapted to be moved to an unlatched position upon movement of the carriage |09 toward the rear end member 16 by means of a releasing bar |25 which is formed with a longitudinal slot |26 through which a clamping bolt |21 engages.

The clamping bolt |21 has a clamping nut |28 threaded thereon so that the latch releasing member |25 may be adjusted to unlatch the latch member |2| at the desired position and thus stop rearward movement of the carriage |09. The nut member ||8 is yieldably moved to a released position when the latch |2| is released from the keeper |24 by means of a spring |29 which engages in a socket |30 formed in the lower block ||6 and in a socket or recess |3| formed in the upper block |8.

A power member |32 is carried by |69 and is Constructed in the form of an electric motor which is disposed with the operating shaft |33 thereof vertical. The shaft |33 projects downwardly through the plate ||2 through an opening |34 formed in the plate ||2 and a block smoothing member or cutter |35 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft |33. The cutter member or block smoothing member |35 is of conventional construction being constructed in the form of a disc having cutting teeth on the lower surface |36 thereof. The opening |34 in the plate ||2 is of sufficient size as to permit they cutter |35 to freely engage therein when the motor |32 is adjusted relative to the plate ||2 or when the motor |32 is vertically withdrawn from the carriage |09.

The motor |32 is xed to an elevator structure generally designated as |31. The elevator structure |31 comprises a pair of vertically disposed guide members |38 in the form of round guide rods which are secured at their lower ends to a lower ange |39 carried by a plate |46. The upper ends of the guide members |38 are secured in an upper right angle flange |4| carried by the upper end of the plate |49. A pair of slide bars |42 are slidable on the guide members |38 and each slide bar |42 has secured thereto a pair of threaded studs |43 which are adapted to engage through the base |44 of the motor 32. Lock nuts |45 are threaded on the studs |43 so as to fixedly secure the motor |32 on the slide members |42. The slide members |42 are locked in their vertically adjusted position by means of a pair of threaded members or studs |46 and |41 which are carried by the slide members 42 in spaced apart relation.

The stud |45 is slidable in an elongated slot |48 formed in the plate |46 and the stud |41 is slidable in an elongated slot |49 also formed in the plate |45. Wing nuts |55 and |5| are threaded onto the studs |46 and |41, respectively.

The base flange |39 of the plate |46 is secured to an extension |52 formed with the plate |2 by fastening devices |53. The slide rods or members |42 are vertically adjusted so as-to vertically adjust the motor |32 and the cutter |35 by means of a screw shaft |54 which at its lower end is rotatably mounted in the .flange |39 as at |55. The upper end of the shaft |54 is provided with a hand wheel |56 and the shaft |54 is held against endwise movement relative to the flange |4| through which the shaft |54 rotatably engages the carriage by means of a collar |51 which is fixed to the Vond carriage slidably engaging shaft |54 below Vthe ange 14|. The position of f the cutter |35 may be determined by a gauge device including a vertically disposed plate |58 1 which is secured along one edge of the plate |40 Abetween the flanges |4| and the base flange |39. The plate |58 as shown in Figure 3 is provided 4with graduations |59 and the uppermost slide member |42 is provided with a laterally projecting pointer |63 which is adapted to overlap the plate |58. 1 .s The elevator structure hereinbefore described is preferably braced by means of a pair of bracing bars ISI which are secured by means of .thumb bolts |62 zto the slide members ||0.

The upper ends of the bracing bars |6| are secured by fastening devices |63 to the upper portion of the elevator structure. I

In the use and operation of this meat chopping .block smoothing machine the device is secured to opposite sides ofthe block I by the clamping members 3| and 38 which are tightened by means of the hand wheels or nuts 48 which tighten the chains 3U. The height. of the clamping members ,3| and 38 may beadjusted through the vertically adjustable supporting legs 49 and 50. After the carriage 51 has been secured to the plates 62 and 453, the cutter |35 may be vertically adjusted through the elevator screw |54. With the cutter |35 in initially adjusted position, the elevator :may be locked by means of the elevator locking nuts |5il and |5I, The carriage 51 may also be llocked relative to the block I5 by means of the .ciamping structure including the clamping members 98 and 99 and the pressure wheel or rod |08.

The screw shaft ||3 may then be rotated to shift the cutter carriage |09 lengthwise of the guide members 64 and 65. When the carriage |09 reaches the opposite side of the block I5, the releasing member will engage the latch |2| so as to release this latch from the keeper |24 and permit the spring |29 to swing the threaded block ||8 out of engagement with the screw I3. The carriage |09 maythen be moved in its released position from the. shaft ||3 toward the front o f Ithe device and the carriage 51 may be shifted again by release of the clamping members 98 and .9S and by release of the spring pressed dog 94 Yfrom the rack bar 92.

A smoothing machine constructed according to this invention can be clamped tovany size chopping block and the surface of the block may be smoothed to the desired extent through the adjustable cutter |35. This device is of such a construction that it may be assembled at thev point of the location of the chopping block I5 so that it will not be necessary for the user of the block I5 to move the block |5 from the place bers slidably engaging said guide rods, guide members fixed to said end members and disposed at right angles to said guide rods, a secsaid guide members, a threaded shaft carried by said first carriage, a threaded nut for engagement with said shaft, means pivotally supporting said nut from said second carriage, spring-pressed latching means carried by said second carriage for holding said nut in operative position, means carried by said first carriage engageable with said -latching means for releasing said nut from said shaft when said second carriage reaches a predetermined point in its movement relative to said guide members, a vertically shiftable elevator carried by said second carriage, and cutter means ,carried by said elevator.

2. A machine for smoothing meat chopping blocks comprising a cutter, means for supporting said cutter in vertically adjustable relationship with respect to said block, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter at right angles to said first named horizontal adjusting means, said rst named horizontal adjusting means including a screw threaded shaft and a pivoted nut engaging said shaft and secured to said rst named cutter support means, means constantly urging said nut to a disengaged position, a latch on said nut holding said nut in engagement with said shaft, and means secured to said first named horizontal adjusting means for unlatching said nut whereby the latter disengages from said shaft when said cut-ter has moved a pre-determined distance horizontally in one direction.

3. A machine for smoothing meat chopping blocks comprising a cutter, means for supporting said cutter in vertically adjustable relationship with respect to said block, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter at right angles to said first named horizontal adjusting means, said rst named. horizontal adjusting means including a screw threaded shaft and a pivoted nut engaging said shaft and secured to said first named cutter support means, means constantly urging said nut to a disengaged position, releasable latch means for holding said nut in a shaft engageable position, and means secured to said iirst named horizontal adjusting means for engaging said latch, whereby said latch is moved to an unlatched position when said cutter has moved a predetermined distance horizontally.

4. A machine for smoothing meat .chopping vblocks comprising a cutter, means for supporting said cutter in vertically adjustable relationship with respect to said block, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter including a screw -threaded shaft and a pivoted nut engaging said shaft and secured to said rst named cutter support, means constantly urging said nut to a disengaged position, a latch on said nut holding said nut in engagement with said shaft, means adjacent one end of said horizontal adjusting means for unlatching said nut whereby the latter disengages from said shaft when said cutter is moved a predetermined distance horizontally in one direction.

5. A machine for smoothing meat chopping blocks comprising a cutter, means for supporting said cutter in vertically adjustable relationship with respect to said block, means for horizontally adjusting said cutter including a screw threaded shaft and a pivoted nut engaging said shaft and secured to said rst named cutter support means, means constantly urging said nut to a disengaged position, releasable latch means for holding said nut in shaft engaging position, and adjustable means adjacent one end of said horizontal adjusting means for engaging said latch whereby it is moved to an unlatched position when said cutter has moved a predetermined distance horizontally in one direction.

6. A machine fol` smoothing meat chopping blocks comprising a pair of guide members, means detachably securing said members on opposite sides of the block, a carriage movably engaging said members, said carriage including guide means engageable over the top of the block, a second carriage movable on said guide means, a smoothing construction carried by said second carriage, means for moving said second carriage lengthwise of said guide members, and correlated means carried by said rst and second carriages for disengaging said second carriage from said moving means when said carriage has moved a predetermined distance in at least one direction.

7. A machine for smoothing meat chopping blocks comprising a pair of guide members, means detachably securing said members on op- 20 posite sides of the block, a carriage movably engaging said members, said carriage including guide means engageable over the top of the block, a second carriage movable on said guide means, a smoothing construction carried by said second l carriage, means for moving said second carriage lengthwise of said guide members, and correlated means carried by said first and second carriages for disengaging said second carriage from said moving means when said carriage has moved a predetermined distance in at least one direction, said correlated means including a pivoted nut element carried by said second carriage, means holding said nut element in contact with said moving means, spring means urging said nut element to disengaged position, and means fixed relative to said rst carriage engageable with said holding means to shift the latter to disengaged position when said second carriage has moved a predetermined distance in one direction.

ROLAND L. GOFF. 

